My kids are in MS - are all the enrichment activities worth it?

[Anonymous]

Did it make a difference on their college applications and acceptances?

[Anonymous]

Only as a buildup to high school/advancing them toward higher goals. Like, Scouts now could lead to Eagle Scout later; sports now will make a better HS player, etc. It's called enrichment for a reason. But nothing they do in MS is going to be listed on their college apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only as a buildup to high school/advancing them toward higher goals. Like, Scouts now could lead to Eagle Scout later; sports now will make a better HS player, etc. It's called enrichment for a reason. But nothing they do in MS is going to be listed on their college apps.

Theatre, Band, Orchestra, Chorus too.

When the student lists his/her activities on the Common app, they can say they have been in band from 7th grade through 12th grade, or Scouts from 5th grade through 12th grade. That is about it on the app where MS EC come in to play. My current HS put that he has been a Scout since 5th grade and was Eagle in 10th. My younger child will put that he has been a LL umpire from 7th through 12th grade.

[Anonymous]

I want my kids to build up skills along the way so when they get to high school they can focus on something and hopefully also become a leader in an activity.

[Anonymous]

It's worth it if they like doing it. If you're solely measuring worth by high school continuance or college resume though, not so much. Some will fall off in the transition to high school...replaced by new interests, those solely because of friends are participating, or those you thought they might/should like but never really gained traction with them.

[Anonymous]

Stop, OP, just stop. It is not good to start worrying about resume building in middle school. Its unhealthy. It adds to the incredible pressure all these kids face. It makes every choice transactional -- will this help, or not? -- so that kids lose the sense of learning for its own sake or enjoying an activity for its own sake. It is stunting. It is a waste of childhood. It is why I believe we have ruined an entire generation of children and they will one day be very, very angry with us.

Is it worth it? If he enjoys it. That is the only answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's worth it if they like doing it. If you're solely measuring worth by high school continuance or college resume though, not so much. Some will fall off in the transition to high school...replaced by new interests, those solely because of friends are participating, or those you thought they might/should like but never really gained traction with them.

Above is right. Two other things: 1) if your child has trouble keeping up with school work b/c of too many ECs, then drop back. Don't be fooled. Grades still count far more than ECs; 2) MS is a good age to still encourage kids to try new things to see what they like. So if they can still do their school work, enjoy the activities, and don't make you crazy with driving them around too much - go for it. I agree if they don't like it, don't make them crazy doing a lot of ECs. But if they don't want to do anything ever except be a couch potato after school, nudging them into one or two things in a school year is not a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Really, really, really excelling at one is better than being an All Arounder. Or so they say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop, OP, just stop. It is not good to start worrying about resume building in middle school. Its unhealthy. It adds to the incredible pressure all these kids face. It makes every choice transactional -- will this help, or not? -- so that kids lose the sense of learning for its own sake or enjoying an activity for its own sake. It is stunting. It is a waste of childhood. It is why I believe we have ruined an entire generation of children and they will one day be very, very angry with us.

Is it worth it? If he enjoys it. That is the only answer.

I agree with this so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop, OP, just stop. It is not good to start worrying about resume building in middle school. Its unhealthy. It adds to the incredible pressure all these kids face. It makes every choice transactional -- will this help, or not? -- so that kids lose the sense of learning for its own sake or enjoying an activity for its own sake. It is stunting. It is a waste of childhood. It is why I believe we have ruined an entire generation of children and they will one day be very, very angry with us.

Is it worth it? If he enjoys it. That is the only answer.

I agree with this so much.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

For my 2 DCs college apps I think volunteering aids in admission especially if has a common theme (horses, kids, hospital, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's worth it if they like doing it. If you're solely measuring worth by high school continuance or college resume though, not so much. Some will fall off in the transition to high school...replaced by new interests, those solely because of friends are participating, or those you thought they might/should like but never really gained traction with them.

This is true. Middle school is a time where they to start to figure out what they like, what they are good at, and what is not worth their time.

[Anonymous]

I think they are if your child gets something out of it. I try not to get too worked up about whether it will "lead" to anything but perhaps that's because my child isn't gifted an any of the ECs he pursues. He plays recreational soccer as a way to get fresh air and exercise in the Spring and Fall and has studied piano for years. I hope he will persist and continue both ECs through high school. He is a good (but hardly exceptional) player and I hope when he is an adult and does not have the time for lessons he will be happy he can play an instrument and has the ability to appreciate music more deeply because he learned piano as well as piano theory for (hopefully) 12-13 years. It sounds like colleges are more impressed by athletic ECs unless the child is an exceptional musician - winning state awards etc. If studying piano helps that's great but it is not the main reason to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are if your child gets something out of it. I try not to get too worked up about whether it will "lead" to anything but perhaps that's because my child isn't gifted an any of the ECs he pursues. He plays recreational soccer as a way to get fresh air and exercise in the Spring and Fall and has studied piano for years. I hope he will persist and continue both ECs through high school. He is a good (but hardly exceptional) player and I hope when he is an adult and does not have the time for lessons he will be happy he can play an instrument and has the ability to appreciate music more deeply because he learned piano as well as piano theory for (hopefully) 12-13 years. It sounds like colleges are more impressed by athletic ECs unless the child is an exceptional musician - winning state awards etc. If studying piano helps that's great but it is not the main reason to do it.

Unfortunately, colleges care more about athletic ECs. Even if your kid spends 5 or 6 hours a week on piano, they won't consider it unless he or she has won some prestigious award.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are if your child gets something out of it. I try not to get too worked up about whether it will "lead" to anything but perhaps that's because my child isn't gifted an any of the ECs he pursues. He plays recreational soccer as a way to get fresh air and exercise in the Spring and Fall and has studied piano for years. I hope he will persist and continue both ECs through high school. He is a good (but hardly exceptional) player and I hope when he is an adult and does not have the time for lessons he will be happy he can play an instrument and has the ability to appreciate music more deeply because he learned piano as well as piano theory for (hopefully) 12-13 years. It sounds like colleges are more impressed by athletic ECs unless the child is an exceptional musician - winning state awards etc. If studying piano helps that's great but it is not the main reason to do it.

Unfortunately, colleges care more about athletic ECs. Even if your kid spends 5 or 6 hours a week on piano, they won't consider it unless he or she has won some prestigious award.

Colleges care more about grades. DC has no sports and managed to get into all the school to which he applied. He will be attending a top ten school in his chosen major next year.